Bipolar Disorder Support Group

NO. Sam, did this happen to you?

No. BP can be controlled and those who are able can provide productive labor in many fields. The same applies to people with other diagnoses.

not at all...i think we find out what our limits are. I am a social worker and have found that i CANNOT investigate child abuse anymore...it has aggravated my BP so bad it's not funny. YET, there are other social work positions i CAN do that are not as terribly stressful. I am sure this can go for nursing and many other professions.

hi. im 24 years old i was diagnosed with major depression 2 and a half years ago. Im already a licensed nurse here in our country.After getting my license, i went into a one month training in the cvu, icu and ward in a local hospital.When i was a trainee, i can hardly follow the instructions (such as operating the infusion pump), i also find it hard to concentrate and to focus.. and i get so panicky and overwhelmed by anxiety.I just think that it was too stressful.Even the other nurses were seeing me like that and I felt really ashamed. I feel so powerless. I studied hard for my career, passed the exam and everything. I just could not accept that this is happening to me right now. I even cancelled my exam although i paid 50% of its price because its useless, Its actually a borad exam of America. (the nclex) . NOw,. im jobless, my pdoc told me to let go of nursing and find another job. But i couldn't let go just like that. I am thinking about my future and everything. Many suggested that, "why dont you focus on ur healing first and decide later if u still wanted to continue?":My answer to that is, i know myself. What if im already ok, then i returned on being not so okay. In nursing there should be no mistakes right? It's just so frustrating because i wanted to pursue hemodialysis nursing. I just dont know what to do. The fact that i cudnt do nursing is killing me. Should i give nclex a shot? I just wanted to have an option for the future. pls help

i wonder if anyone has been already cured. (on depression) i have a trouble concentrating and on remembering things. wondering if i will ever get better in the future.

Hi, I am very sorry you are experiencing such frustration and confusion so early in your career. I am a RN-for over 20 yrs. I am a rather newly diagnosed BP 2. So far, it has not effected my job performance greatly, except when newly diagnosed- I took some time off to deal with this. I am lucky to have a supportive work environment (though they don't know about my BP- they just thought it was stress)

BP can can effect cognition, judgement and reasoning (in addition to mood), all of which are critical to have intact as a nurse. I would not make a blanket statement that a BP should not be a nurse, but only a well controlled BP should practice--especially in a intense, fast paced & higher risk fields-OB, ER, ICU etc. It would not hurt to investigate dialysis. Once you learn something (especially under less pressure) you could feel less anxious and more confident..

Other specializations like diabetes education, wound care or orthopedic might work and appeal to you. Whatever, I would encourage you to not give up, and pf course care for yourself. I am always my first patient of the day. lol

Good luck with everything. Try not to let BP pry your training and vocation out of your hands.

No, I do think you should give up just like that. I think that if you are freaking out that you are not going to able able to hack it then it's going to make everything 10 times worse. I think taking a break right now is a good thing, give yourself some time to refocus. There are plenty of fields open to nurses that don't have to be super intense. Big hugs

l understand your dilema l gave up my design career because l just couldn't remain stable under the pressure it was a huge trigger and l then made mistakes...worse to imagine if l had peoples health and well being at stake.

l'm changing career and wondering if l can pass the exams with my brain refusing to always work clearly, and then be able to work as an art therapist after but l have a passion for this so l must try and find a way l may never become a therapist but compromise to a therapists helper. l don't want to put peoples psychological health at risk so l'm taking it a day at a time but if l'm found not to be competant then l will learn to compromise again.

I feel with the right meds and good support system u can do whatever your heart desire. Best of wishes xxxx

No A Bipolar should not be banned from Nursing
My goal is to get involved with psychiatric nursing. Get out of the high stress end of nursing. In the ICU you need to be able to pay attention to detail. The ER it is just so fast paced. Sounds like you might make a good doctors office nurse, a school nurse - something less intense. AS for problems with the infusion pumps, Maybe your not a technical or mechanical person. Good Luck